Ricardo Garcia-Baltazar, Identity Theft, Ohio 2013

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Identity Thief Targets Youngstown Community

Ricardo Garcia-Baltazar, a 37-year-old man from Youngstown, Ohio, has been charged with identity theft in a federal indictment announced by the Northern District of Ohio.

Garcia-Baltazar, also known as Richard Molina, allegedly represented himself as a U.S. citizen when he is not, according to the indictment. The false representation took place on January 17, 2013, and is just one of two counts against the defendant.

The second count alleges that Garcia-Baltazar transferred, possessed and used identification of another person without lawful authority between January 17, 2013, and March 8, 2013. He is accused of knowing that the identification belonged to another person.

The investigation into Garcia-Baltazar’s activities was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jason M. Katz.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Garcia-Baltazar is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Garcia-Baltazar’s sentence will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including his prior criminal record, if any, his role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum, and in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

The people of Youngstown deserve to know that their community is safe from identity thieves like Garcia-Baltazar. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and bring you updates as more information becomes available.

Contact Information:

Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, can be reached at (216) 622-3930 or USAO.NDOH@usdoj.gov.

Garcia-Baltazar’s indictment is a reminder that identity theft is a serious crime with serious consequences. The Grimy Times will continue to shine a light on this issue and work to keep our community safe.

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